Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - Early History of University (1916) [PAGE 17]

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XVI 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The The The The The course course course course course

U N I V E R S I T Y OF I L L I N O I S in in in in in English Language and Literature Modern Language and Literature Ancient Language and Literature History and Social Science Philosophy, Intellectual and Moral 1

The report of this course of stndy committee eaused considerable excitement among the people. The idea of teaching " E n g l i s h L i t e r a t u r e " and " A n c i e n t and Modern Languages and Literatures,'' proved as the red flag to the infuriated bull of the story. The institution was denounced as no more than one of the " o l d colleges ' ' and the question was derisively asked, ' ' Why add, by a public grant of lands, to these old institutions, of which the people already have too m a n y ? " I t is probably due to the warfare aroused by this course of study that only 57 were enrolled at the opening of the University on March 11, 1868, and of these, 45 were from Champaign County. Untrue and sensational tales were told and believed, greatly to the discredit of the new University. Many demanded that the classics should be excluded from the course of study; others that they should be tolerated, but not cherished. By some it was elaimed that the students of belle-lettres would constitute an aristocratic class in that institution and that the students of agriculture and mechanic arts would be looked upon as inferiors. The dissatisfaction showed itself in newspaper articles and in public addresses. Dissensions took place in the Board of Trustees. Finally, in 1870, a convention of delegates from the several eounty agricultural societies met a t Bloomington to consider the past, present, and future condition of the Illinois Industrial University. Dr. Gregory attended this convention and delivered an address. He explained a t length the act creating the University and the course of study, answered some reasonable questions, and as a result very much improved the existing feeling. They appointed a committee to visit and investigate the institution and report thereon. This committee's report served greatly to strengthen the University. 3 The subjects actually taught at the opening of the University were algebra, geometry, natural philosophy, history, rhetoric, and Latin, and the work was carried on in the brick building which was the donation of Champaign County. This building also served as a dormitory and came to be known as the Old Dormitory building. Owing fo the belief that it is the separation of the theoretical and practical which renders so much education mere " b o o k l e a r n i n g , " the Board of Trustees decided that a manual labor system should be thoroughly tried, and all students, not excused for physical disability, were required to labor from one to three hours a day. The students went out in squads, under their military officers, and under the general supervision of members of the faculty. The maximum compensation of such labor was eight cents an hour. Many students worked voluntarily over hours, and received for such over-work twelve and a half cents an hour. In a short time, however, labor was made wholly voluntary, except as it was a part of some course of study, as the shop practice in the course of mechanical science and art. In matters' of discipline Dr. Gregory believed in treating the students as men, and in appealing to their manhood for the maintenance of good order. His love of freedom showed itself in the establishment of the Student's Government system, first'tried in 1870. By permission of the faculty, the general assembly of the students was organized, and a constitution adopting providing for the election of a president,

' R e p . of Univ. of 111., 1868, p. 50. 5 See p. 47, footnote for qnotntion.